LOVE IS A BALL
US, 1963, 111 minutes, Colour.
Glenn Ford, Hope Lange, Charles Boyer, Ricardo Montalban, Telly Savalas, Ulla Jacobson.
Directed by David Swift.
Love is A Ball is a piece of frothy entertainment from the early 60s - with a touch of suggestiveness of sex comedies of the period and an indication of more permissive styles to come. The film was co-written and directed by David Swift who also made Under Yum Yum Tree during this period.
The film has very attractive Riviera locations. It also has an engaging cast led by an amiable Glenn Ford. Hope Lange looks rather odd (perhaps in retrospect) as a blonde wigged flighty heiress. The supporting cast is led by Charles Boyer at his most suave, Ricardo Montalban being genial, Telly Savalas being wimpish, Ulla Jacobson being attractive. The plot is the familiar one of conmen trying to arrange a marriage with a rich American heiress - and, of course, she falls for the Chauffeur. Nothing particularly new - but done with vivacity.
1. Entertaining Comedy? Romance? Glamorous sex comedy?
2. The Riviera locations, wide screen photography? Attractive for this kind of film? The world of the affluent?
3. The title, the focus on romance, relationships, conmen arranging marriages?
4. Milly as the heiress - her millions, her relationship with her grandmother and her care, the secretary and his primness? Plans for marriage? Her giddy behaviour? Good at working on cars? The encounter with Johnny, clashes, attraction? The arrangement with the Grand Duke, the party, her outings with him - and his accidents? Skipping the party, seeking out Johnny, the pleasant evening with him, her misunderstands of his relationship? Working on the boat? Her reaction, going to Switzerland at Mr Pimm's advise, with Johnny, the romance, the revelation of the truth and her reaction, the planned marriage, the walking out of the marriage wearing the wedding dress reconciliation with Johnny? A stereotyped heiress character?
5. Johnny, his background in car racing, his boat? Recruited by Mr Pimm and the promise of money? Training the Grand Duke? Having to step in as chauffeur, telling Milly off about her mechanics? Driving her around, clashes? The party, her working on the boat, the attraction, Switzerland? Her clash - and his telling her the truth about his racing car prowess? Taking the engine out of her car? The reconciliation?
6. Mr Pimm and Charles Boyer's suave style, setting himself up in the mansion, his secretary, his assistants? Getting the owner to gossip? The meticulous plan, training the Grand Duke in sport, language and social graces? The chef to attract Telly Savalas's character? His plan, his working out? The encounter with Telly with the grandmother, the party? Underestimating Milly, Johnny? Giving her the advice to go to Switzerland? The mistake, their driving to Switzerland? Mixing everything up, his apologies? His secretary, her devotion to him, attraction to the Grand Duke, the final proposal and marriage?
7. The other tutors, the Oxford Don? the Chef? The chauffeur infiltrating, Johnny having to go in his place? The conmen and the plan?
8. Telly Savalas as a more wimpish secretary, love for food, care for Milly, the grandmother? Attracted by the food, the party, entering into the plans? Pushed into the water?
9. The grandmother, her love for Milly, concern about the marriage?
10. The background of Rivera society, gossip, wealth, parties, Grand Prix, Chateaux and Mansions?
11. The frothy atmosphere to the film - true and false romance? The Grand Duke: Ricardo Montalban and his style, his family and financial background, In Mr Pimm's plan, his bad English, being trained by the tutors, set up for the encounter with Milly, the outings and his gaffes on horses, the dance floor etc.? His wanting to give it all up? His love for the secretary, getting a job, then marriage?
